<p>Should I try to apply ED to Duke with a 30 ACT? Duke is my dream school, and my ACT is the only thing holding my application down. I've taken the most rigorous courses I could, I'm in the top 5% of my class, have tons of volunteer time and EC's, and great essays. My only problem seems to be my ACT. Could applying ED maybe make up for it? If not, which one of these other schools should I apply ED to and have a better chance? Thanks.</p>
<p>Notre dame
Vandy
Rice
UChicago</p>
<p>A 30 ACT is a competitive score for Duke. If you know you can afford it & you’re sure it’s your #1 choice than do ED. Schools like Duke greatly consider competitive students who apply ED so your chances of getting in should go up a little</p>
<p>Hey. Since you only had 3 posts and only put your ACT score here I looked at your other posts, I hope that was okay. My take is this, </p>
<p>I think your ACT is low for Duke.</p>
<p>Did you not take the SATs?</p>
<p>If you like sports and econ I think it would be better to say you want to get into sports information than “finance a sports team” someday. Sports info is a solid goal and actually is kind of a great essay, the kind that could get you in. Having a love for sports while not playing is a real thing, it’s like loving music and not being able to sing. For every 1 person up there there’s like ten more people behind the scenes.</p>
<p>Your 8th grade grades will not be on your HS transcript. At least I hope, because mine were blah.</p>
<p>Above all, don’t waste your ED on UChicago. If my GC pounded anything into our heads, it’s not to waste your ED on a dream, it’s the best advantage you have with the common app these days and colleges are taking more and more of their classes ED because they don’t like being one of 20 applications anymore. ED is one way they know someone’s serious. If in doubt, and yes if your parents can afford it, only use your ED on a place where you are sure you are not just dreaming.</p>
<p>I am not being all God on you, man. I really had to let go of a few first choice schools because it just was not going to happen.</p>
<p>I’m also looking at Duke ED and I only have an ACT of 28, but I think I have a pretty unique EC. Standardized tests are definitely the weakest link of my application.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. Definitely considering what you said.</p>
<p>Yea, Im in a similar situation but with class rank and gpa. <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1561287-duke-ed-uchicago-ea-gatech-ea.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1561287-duke-ed-uchicago-ea-gatech-ea.html</a></p>
<p>What are you gonna do?</p>
<p>Honestly a 30 ACT is low for Duke. Although applying ED does help, it probably won’t make up enough for the low score. Since you are in the top 5% of your class, that tells me that you have room to improve on your ACT score. I would study my *** off if I were you and get a competitive score the next test date and maybe apply RD, since the rest of your app is spot-on according to your post.</p>
<p>Or you could apply ED and cross your fingers. Stranger things have happened!</p>
<p>Yeah epic, the problem with that is I want to show that Duke is my top choice by applying ED. Also, I’ve never studied for an ACT before, so in the next two weeks if I put in enough time I think I can improve my score a lot. With that being said, I’m going to take a chance on Duke ED, and use my improved score(hopefully) on my backup schools.</p>
<p>If you take the ACT again in two weeks you might not make the ED deadline</p>
<p>Yeah I know. So I’m going to take a chance with a 30 for Duke ED, then use the October ACT (which will hopefully be improved) on my RD schools if I’m rejected. I’m fully expecting to be rejected by Duke, I was just wondering if it was even worth it to apply ED with a 30. From what my college counselor said, and what I’m reading here, I’m just going to take a shot and hope for the best.</p>